9 phrasal verbs with 'DRAW'

Draw back

1. Retreat, move backwards

   
   

   (Separable [optional] | International English)

   
   

   » Example: He DREW BACK when the dog barked.

Draw down

1. Reduce levels

   
   

   (Separable [optional] | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The administration want to DRAW DOWN troop numbers as soon as they can.

2. Get funding

   
   

   (Separable [optional] | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The college wants to DRAW DOWN extra funding for IT provision.

3. To deplete by consumption or heavy spending

   
   

   (Separable [optional] | American English)

   
   

   » Example: Gas reserves were DRAWN DOWN in the recent cold spell.

Draw even

1. Equalize one’s competitive position

   
   

   (Intransitive | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The exhausted horse DREW EVEN at the finish line.

Draw in

1. Get dark earlier

   
   

   (Intransitive | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The nights are DRAWING IN now it's winter.

2. Arrive at a station (for trains)

   
   

   (Intransitive | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The train DREW IN and we got off.

Draw into

1. Get involved in something unpleasant

   
   

   (Inseparable | International English)

   
   

   » Example: I didn't want to take sides because I didn't want to get DRAWN INTO their arguments.

Draw on

1. Pass slowly (time)

   
   

   (Intransitive | International English)

   
   

   » Example: As the lesson DREW ON, the students started to get bored.

2. Inhale smoke from a cigarette, cigar, etc

   
   

   (Inseparable | International English)

   
   

   » Example: He DREW ON his cigarette and coughed.

3. Exploit or use knowledge, skills or information for a specific purpose or aim

   
   

   (Inseparable | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The training DRAWS ON the expertise of various people.

Draw out

1. Make something continue longer than needed

   
   

   (Separable [optional] | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The director DREW the meeting OUT with a lengthy speech.

2. Make a shy person more outgoing

   
   

   (Separable [obligatory] | International English)

   
   

   » Example: He was so quiet at first, but the teacher managed to DRAW him OUT and get him to participate.

Draw up

1. Prepare a contract

   
   

   (Separable [optional] | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The contract was DRAWN UP by our solicitor.

2. When a vehicle stops

   
   

   (Intransitive | International English)

   
   

   » Example: The police car DREW UP alongside him at the red lights and asked him to pull over.

Draw upon

1. Exploit or use knowledge, skills or information for a specific purpose or aim

   
   

   (Inseparable | International English)

   
   

   » Example: I DREW UPON my previous experience to find the solution.